Red Bull Racing's Vettel Tops Friday Practice at Monza

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

A tight Formula 1 points race between the past driving champions of McLaren and the rising stars of Red Bull Racing, the fast Italian 3.6 mile Monza race circuit, the 2010 Formula 1 enters the Italian Grand Prix with the potential of a thrilling event on Sunday. Two days prior to this anticipated Grand Prix, a free practice sessions of Friday provided some valuable shakedown time on this second low-downforce track in a row for the Formula 1 teams.

On the Friday session McLaren's Jenson Button topped the first Friday practice round but it was Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel who led the faster, later afternoon practice session. Storming around the 3.6 mile Italian Monza complex in 1 minute, 22.839 seconds, Vettel out ran Button's morning session by more than 8/10ths of a second. For the German Red Bull Racing driver, the trip back to Monza is the return for where his Formula 1 greatness was realized. Only two years ago, the still green Sebastian Vettel grabbed a surprise victory at Monza for Red Bull Racing's satellite team Toro Rosso Racing. Within the Red Bull Racing organization, Vettel's pace through both sessions is beating Australian teammate Mark Webber handedly with the second Red Bull-Renault 6th fastest following the 2nd practice.

In pursuit of Vettel, Fernando Alonso as well as teammate Felipe Massa recorded the 2nd and 3rd quickest times on Friday afternoon practice charts little more than 2/10ths of a second off the Red Bull-Renault. Hometown hero car builder, the Scederia Ferrari team is certain to be providing much of the ambient crowd noise over the Monza track. An equally strong McLaren-Mercedes effort led by Lewis Hamilton over Jenson Button following the red Ferraris by at least 1/10th of a second.



The conclusion of the Belgium Grand Prix two weeks ago at Spa-Francorchamps circuit saw the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton persist to clinch victory after a late safety car. Ending well for McLaren Hamilton and Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber, both driver's teammates failed to score points in that late August Formula 1 round allowing the two drivers to breakaway in the points standings.

With Lewis Hamilton currently a mere 3 points ahead of Mark Webber, the gap is 28 points back to 3rd place Sebastian Vettel and 32 points in front of 4th place Jenson Button. Of course, with the new the 2010 Formula 1 points as well as 6 Grand Prix races including the Italian Grand Prix left to be run, these season race winners are by no means out of the fight. 5th place Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso 41-point gap on Hamilton keeps the 2-time Formula 1 driving champion in the hunt. However, the Spanish driver Alonso needs to not only win Grand Prixs but the respect of the FIA Formula 1 stewerds who have been catching too many incidents that cost the Ferrari pilot valuable track position.  


2010 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Afternoon Practice Time Chart Ranking

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
7. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
8. Robert Kubica Renault F1
9. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
10. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
11. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
13. Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
14. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
15. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
16. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
17. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
18. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
20. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
21. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
22. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
23. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
24. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth

Dirt Flies as Steve Arpin Wins DuQuoin

Photo Credit: ARCA

We have all been acquinted with the fact that NASCAR's top series specialize in racing on paved surfaces. In fact, the series which is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup division hasn't run on a dirt track since 1969 won by Richard Petty. The ARCA Racing Series is a unique stock car tour which annually holds events on both paved and dirt tracks. Running two dirt track races in total for 2010 in the state of Illinios, this offers a truly special opportunity for full-bodied stock cars to jockey on looser surfaces. With the first race transpired at the Illinois State Fairground two weeks ago in Springfield, the second of the dirt oval races was being held on Labour Day Monday at the DuQuoin State Fairground.

The green flag dropped for the Southern Illinois 100, 33 Starters led by the #10 Ford of AJ Fike flew across the start line entering into what would be a very tense outing for many competitors. Fike would stay out front for the first 16 circuits around the 1-mile DuQuoin dirt oval until he lost the lead to local driver Kelly Kovski. Losing the led, AJ Fike's day which started with a Menards Pole award ends due to the ill-effects of an engine failure to the #10 car.

Spending 14 laps out front in the #17 Chevrolet Kovski, who regularly serves as a Car Chief for another driver, retained the top spot until he pitted ahead of lap 31. By pitting, former long-time NASCAR Sprint Cup mainstay Ken Schrader took the lead of the 100 lap. Schrader's appearance at the front of the race would be relatively short-lived as ARCA overall points contender Tom Hessert overhauled the Federated Chevrolet on lap 37. Harking back to the tensity of the Southern Illinois 100, drivers would have to survive 11 cautions within the 100 lap event. This was significant for Hessert's effort in the #77 dodge as he wanted a long, green flag to separate him from the rest of the field. Through the multiple yellow flags, this was not going to happen for Tom Hessert.

As Hessert led, Venturini Motorsport driver and Canadian Steve Arpin found the strength in his #55 Mike's Hard Lemonade Chevy was on short runs. Meaning, once Arpin climbed to second, the #77 Dodge was in his sights. On lap 62, Fort Frances, Ontario native Steve Arpin pulled off the race-winning pass going in to lead the final 39 laps around the 1-mile dirt track. Having previously scored pole at the Illinois State Fairground ARCA race, Arpin's championship-winning background on dirt tracks made this event the obvious location for breaking a 5-month ARCA Racing Series winless streak.  

Photo Credit: ARCA

Tom Hessert gave Arpin an honest fight up to the checkered flag but finished 1/2 a second behind. Hessert's finish two positions ahead of Patrick Sheltra (point leader heading into the event) has resulted in a tie at the top of the ARCA Racing Series point standings. Steve Arpin's Venturini Motorsport teammate Mikey Kile finished 3rd which allowed the driver to elevate himself to 5th in the points.

Ken Schrader placed 5th in the Southern Illinois 100 at DuQuoin ahead of Will Kimmel, Craig Goess, Chad McCumbee, Kelly Kovski and Bryan Silas who made up the remainder of the race's top-10 finishers.

Tony Stewart Heats up Atlanta for First Sprint Cup Win of 2010

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/ Getty Images

Assembling for the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labour day weekend Sunday night, 43 cars led by pole sitter Denny Hamlin took green for 325 laps around a very fast race track.

A tame race through the early one-third distance absent of caution breaks, the Emory Healthcare 500 was dominated early by pole sitter Denny Hamlin. A effort appearance early for Joe Gibbs Racing, the team's leading #11 Toyota was followed by Kyle Busch in the #18 car. With the first set of green flag pit stops being accomplished after 50 laps, Kyle Busch was able to sneak around his teammate Hamlin through a fast pit road entrance where Busch braked his #18 at the last second.

Taking the 1st place spot after the round of stops are completed, Kyle Busch was alerted his speedy entrance was in fact too speedy. NASCAR penalized the #18 Toyota on lap 51 dropping the Joe Gibbs Racing backed effort to 23rd. Able to retain a spot on the lead lap, an additional situation resulted in a premature pit stop for Kyle Busch twenty laps after getting issued his speeding penalty. Pitting in concern for a loose wheel, Busch's #18 car returned to the NASCAR Sprint Cup pack deeply one lap down.

When the #18 Toyota was initially dropped to pit road due to the penalty, Tony Stewart sailed to the lead. Holding off Denny Hamlin near the end of the fuel run, Stewart stayed out in front through a second group of green flag pit stops. Seeking his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win for 2010, Tony Stewart resumed leading the Emory Healthcare 500 once cars cycled through pit road service. This lead was held under green until the race's first yellow flag wasn't thrown until lap 133. The #14 Old Spice Chevrolet would spent a lot more quality time in first place this night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Declared a debris caution (even though the actual debris was not seen on television) the caution was a welcoming pause in the action for drivers and fans. Having been lapped just prior to the caution, the then-16th place #88 Chevrolet by driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr appreciated the yellow flag most as the Hendrick Motorsport car was allowed back into the lead lap pack.

As the race restarted on lap 139, the once strong #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin lost a few spots under green but there was no indication a problem existed with the Joe Gibbs Racing. A short five laps after relinguishing positions, Hamlin's troubles became much more serious as the #11 engine blew on the Atlanta front stretch. A nightmare for Denny Hamlin's hopes of starting strong into the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, this came as a sacfrice play for Joe Gibbs Racing as Kyle Busch's #18 Toyota received a free pass.

After the race went 133 laps without a caution, a third caution would fly within 20 laps. Started when the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle was tapped by the Ryan Newman-driven #39 Chevrolet heading into the 3rd turn. Drifting through the turn 3-4 complex, The #16 Ford was almost under control until inavertedly clipping Elliott Sadler's #19 Ford. Biffle's car would return after massive front end repairs.

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/ Getty Images for NASCAR

As the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers once again returned their cars to the attention of the under 15-second pit crews, one of the final hold-outs to pitting was the #29 Chevrolet of points leader Kevin Harvick. Staying out those extra few laps would ultimately prove to be an undoing for the Richard Childress Racing driver. Making an entrance to pit road wih 72 laps to go, Harvick's left-front tire blew. Entering with a comfortable points lead, Harvick's run of Atlanta would cost him some of that lead as the #29 Chevrolet spent the latter stages of the Emory Healthcare 500 wounded by fender damage.

Sprint runs were set up through the remaining distance of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race thanks to a several cautions spanning from an engine explosion on the #82 Toyota of Scott Speed and a later caution thrown for a Brad Keselowski spin. Keeping the front tight, the final yellow flag was the result of some rough and tumble racing between #39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne's #9 Ford.

Taking the lead for the final time, Tony Stewart had brief opposition from the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards but pulled well out to lead the final 20 laps winning the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His first win of the 2010 season, Tony Stewart led 176 of the 325 laps for his 4th Sprint Cup series victory at the 1.54 mile track.

With the winner of the Atlanta Sprint Cup event ending a 31-race winless streak, the top-5 contained a collection of drivers needing good runs. Finishing 2nd in the race, Carl Edwards has results in the top-10 for 7 of the past 8 NASCAR Sprint Cup events after a sluggish start of 2010. Clearly, the new Ford engine is having a positive impact in bringing the Roush Fenway Racing team back to the competitive forefront. More recently enduring a tough stretch of races, Jimmie Johnson got a much-needed 3rd place result ahead of Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch.

During and especially after the Atlanta NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the top-12 in points were a main focus as the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup starts with only the Saturday night race in Richmond remaining. Kevin Harvick is guaranteed to be the top in points after Richmond (at least before the realignment for the Chase)but 3rd through 8th place in the standings can still fluxulate. As for the 12th place bubble spot, Clint Bowyer holds more than a 117 point advantage over 13th place Ryan Newman. In fact, Newman might have lost a few points at Atlanta when Kasey Kahne tapped the #39 Chevy as payback late in this event.

Prior to the Atlanta Motor Speedway event, it was announced that Speedway Motorsports (the parent company of the 1.54 mile oval will only return for this Labour Day event in 2011. Atlanta Motor Speedway should feel comfortable that they will retain the date with excellent night time weather and a sizable fan attandance.



2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Emory Healthcare 500
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race Results

Top -10

Pos #  |  Car #  | Driver | Sponsor/Car Make

1) 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Old Spice Chevrolet
2) 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
3) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
4) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
5) 18 Kyle Busch Pedigree Toyota
6) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
7) 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
8) 39 Ryan Newman U.S. Army Reserve Chevrolet
9) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Huggies Chevrolet
10) 47 Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie Toyota
 
 
Other Notables
 
11) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford
13) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont / Jeff Gordon Foundation Chevrolet
16) 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Outdoors Toyota
22) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
32) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser/ Valvoline Ford
33) 29 Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
43) 11 Denny Hamlin Sport Clips Toyota